Eldon Shamblin

Born: April 24, 1916 Weatherford, OK, USA

Born in Western Oklahoma, Eldon moved to Oklahoma City at the early age of 18 years old to be a musician. Eldon spent five years playing in, as he would say, "joints" and living day to day. Self taught, he developed a unique rythum guitar style using a running bass line with cords to create a sound unlike anyone else. A man who and admired his style after listening a his OK Radio Show, Swinging the Classics, that man was Bob Wills. After a long pursuit Bob offered him too much money to refuse. Eldon soon became the Band manager and Bob Will's right hand man for many years. Also composing and arranging many of Bob's tunes. During a long career Eldon played with many artists, such as Merle Haggard (20 years, Asleep at the Wheel, Herb Ellis, Joe Venuti, Etc...

Eldon was famous for his values, great since of humor, being humble and modest, and most of all a great family man. It is said in Tulsa that Cains is the House that Bob built, O.W. Mayo once said that is true, but Eldon was the architect.

Thanks to Eldon's granddaughter for submitting this interesting information.

Instruments Played / Skills: Guitar Genres: Conventional Country Western Swing

Bands That Eldon Shamblin Has Played For: Texas Playboys, The (1938-1954)

Eldon Shamblin Has Worked With: Herman Arnspiger Jesse Ashlock Smokey Dacus Tommy Duncan Art Haines Sleepy Johnson Leon McAuliffe Son Lansford Zeb McNally Ruth McMaster Al Stricklin Johnnie Lee Wills Ray McGeer Joe Ferguson Everett Stover Cousin Cecil Brower Charles Laughton Tubby Lewis Wayne Johnson Louis Tierney Don Harlan Tiny Mott Jamie MacIntosh Gene Tomlin Darrell Jones Danny Alguire George Balay Morris Billington Alex Brashear Neil Duer Bob Fitzgerald Joe Holley